Shoot regeneration from spinach hypocotyl segments by short term treatment with 5,6-dichloro-indole-3-acetic acid

Factors affecting shoot regeneration from hypocotyl segments of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) were investigated. When expiants were cultured on medium containing 10 mg/l IAA for 7 weeks, 3 out of 9 cultivars showed relatively high shoot regeneration response (15 – 35%). The other PGRs tested had no effect on shoot regeneration. However, the transfer of explants from auxin-containing medium to auxin-free medium 20 d after culture induced shoot formation from expiants cultured on media containing each of the auxin sources tested individually. By applying this short term auxin treatment, more than 80% shoot regeneration was obtained on medium containing 5–20 mg/l 5,6-Cl2-IAA, compared to less than 30% with 10–20 mg/l IAA treatment.